Wasps part the sea of red!

Salut maintenant!
By Little Stinger
April 27 2004

Going back to the beginning of February I worked out my availability to attend the semi final in Dublin, though of course at that stage we still had to overcome Gloucester.

At that time I was free for Saturday but Sunday was already booked up, so I got an airmiles ticket to Dublin to leave on Friday and return on Saturday night.

So when it was announced that the match was to be on Sunday I was gutted!

One week after the demolition of the cherry and whites, observing that the Offish site was doing a day trip, I speculatively spoke with Mrs S who replied, of course you can go - so quicker than a whippet after a rabbit I was confirmed on the Thos Cook tour of Dublin!!

Leaving the house Sunday morning and heading to Heathrow, whatever the result I was convinced that it was going to be a fantastic occasion. So I was a little perplexed that the 230 Wasp supporters (plus a few brave souls wearing Munster shirts) were still sat in the Waspie jumbo jet on the Heathrow tarmac one hour after our scheduled take off time. I was missing out on valued drinking time with the DW’s.

Arriving at Dublin at 1 p.m. and boarding our coaches for the ground “20 minutes away” the few Munster fans amongst us were keeping their own counsel. One hour later we got off the coach and walked the last few hundred yards (I think the Dublin 20 minutes is the equivalent to the London Underground one minute to wait for a tube on the information boards).

Inside the ground at 2.40 p.m. (and a quick hello with Sleepy Pete and crew) two pints of Murphys on the way to my seat set me up for the match. The Wasps players were not backing away from the sea of red that filled the ground doing their warm up right against the perimeter fence about six inches from 4,000 Munster fans.

As for the match - awesome. The Wasps defence controlled the Munster drive by fair means and foul, the resultant penalties were the only thing keeping the red shirts in the game. When Worzle was binned I commented to my fellow Waspie fans that we always play better with 14 men. The quizzical look I got was immediately followed by a Howley charge down and Volls try! The third try of the game followed in the first couple of minutes of the second half, so I made that 12 points to three with 14 men on the park. We were not so fortunate when we lost Fraser to the bin conceding two tries in quick succession and going ten points down.

I must admit to wavering at this time; however if Lawrence can admit to “being in a hole” and Gats “seriously concerned” then I don’t feel I have done anyone a disservice.

Also for the next ten minutes Munster found a defence to repel the Wasps attacks - but it was also their turn to do time in the bin. Some how I believed there was still plenty of time left when Alex took the penalty kick option in the 73rd minute to close the gap to seven, out of my seat when Voyce made the break, and Alex the subsequent kick, to draw level; and you had to scrape me from the stadium roof when Trev burrowed over for the winning try. Then we had the tackle of the match when Big T munched Sheehan with two minutes left on the clock.

A few heartbeats later it was all over and the red shirted brigade congratulated us on the win and good luck in the final. A fine bunch of lads and lasses and it was a great pity that I could not spend more time in their excellent company. Two more pints of Murphys later I found the DW’s around gate 6 and (at last) managed to enjoy a further pint in their company. It wasn’t to last long as the coach departed for the airport at six.

At 6.15 p.m. the stragglers turned up we and we slowly made our way through the heavy Dublin traffic, which allowed plenty of time for several guys to jump off, water the bushes, and jump back on the bus some 20 yards up the road. We also had some folk close to the players regretting their decision not to stay and party the night away in Dublin, I was expecting them to open the emergency door and escape into the Dublin crowds….. So the 20 minute bus journey this time took one and a quarter hours, upon reaching the airport most of us were doubled up making the short dash to the toilets!

A short flight back to London was followed by an equivalent amount of time at the stand without the necessary steps to get us off the plane. We were all for telling the captain to turn around and get us back to Dublin to polish off the day when they turned up and we left for our respective homes.

A crackin day!! Bring on the Toulousain!!!

P.S.When the goodie bags are handed out on future occasions can a BUPA heart check up be included along with the hat and the flag!

We can line-out!